Commonwealth100

Over 60% of the population of the Commonwealth is under 30. That’s 1.2 billion young people. By the Commonwealth centenary in 2031, they will be its leaders. Commonwealth100 introduces the idea of Open Source Leadership to maximize the impact of young leaders in both their professional and civic lives.

Commonwealth100 is a free, online leadership programme from Common Purpose that equips the next generation with 21st century leadership skills.

Using an interactive platform, you will work with a diverse group of young leaders from across the Commonwealth to explore Open Source Leadership a new leadership model co-created with over 1,000 young Commonwealth leaders.

This is your opportunity to gain practical skills for the future. What’s more, everyone who completes Commonwealth100 receives the Open Source Leadership Badge: an online badge you can use to set yourself apart, as a 21st Century leader.

About Commonwealth100

Commonwealth100 is open to young leaders who are from a Commonwealth country, or who currently live, work or study in a Commonwealth country.

Commonwealth100 programme outcomes:

Produce a more socially conscious generation of leaders

Create a network of young leaders in touch with each other

Foster current and future global partnerships between young leaders

Frame a fresh, bold, principled, networked Commonwealth of the future

11,800+

registered participants

92%

of participants have found the course to be good value for their time

48

out of 53 Commonwealth countries represented

Open Source Leadership

Many young people today recognize that we need a new approach to leadership. That’s why we worked with over 1,000 young leaders to discover the skills we need when Commonwealth celebrates its centenary in 2031.

Open Source Leadership is a new, crowd-sourced model for leadership, which aims to equip you with the competencies you need to be successful in a world that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (what many call the VUCA world).

Akashi Alam, Participant, Commonwealth100

"I am excited about Commonwealth100 because leadership is something that can be easily overlooked. Commonwealth100 offers something thateveryone can learn from and implement into whatever they do. I think it's a key tool that is going to facilitate well rounded learning of so many young people."

Open source leadership | Andy Coxall | TEDxLondon

Youth leadership advocate Andy Coxall tells the stories of the young people he has met around the globe in his quest to mentor the next generation of leaders.

Awake

We will be AWAKE to intolerance and determined to counterbalance it.

Interconnected

We will work to lift each other up.

Trustworthy

We will rebuild trust by being TRUSTWORTHY ourselves.

Quick

We will be QUICK to adapt to a world turned upside down by Artificial Intelligence.

Accessible

We will be ACCESSIBLE leaders.

88%

of young people are excited about the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

79%

of young people identify with two or more cultures

78%

of young people have personally experienced intolerance

Dr Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Zambia (Founding Partner and Advisory Council member)

"The Bank of Zambia is very excited to be partnering with Common Purpose as a Founding Partner on Commonwealth100 to support young leaders across the Commonwealth. CW100 promises to create a generation of open source leaders, and empower them to adapt to our rapidly changing world."

Joe Burroughs, member of Commonwealth100 Guiding Council

"‘Open Source’ should summarise an essential premise that we, as a generation, must embrace wholeheartedly; that we shall never stop challenging, innovating and expanding the ideas, people and technology that lead and define our generation. As a guiding concept, it has the power to create leaders, from all backgrounds, that have the tools and ability to overcome the challenges of the contemporary world…”

How does it work?

Using an online platform, you will hear stories from senior and emerging leaders who have had to lead complex change.

You will take part in interactive exercises and discussions with peers from across the Commonwealth. And you will read compelling articles, which explore the skills you need to be successful in the 21st century.

All participants who complete the programme will receive the Open Source Leadership Badge, which can be used as a record of your achievement on your CV or online profiles.

Who can take part?

Commonwealth100 is open to young people, aged 18+, from across the Commonwealth. You may be at the beginning of your career or in Higher or Further Education.

Where?

The programme is hosted online.

When?

Though the course originally ran in three-week-long cohorts, starting in 2019 it will run in seven-week-long cohorts. It takes between three to six hours to complete the course, which can be done flexibly over the cohort period. The course dates for 2019 are:

4 January – 22 February

1 March – 19 April

3 May – 21 June

This will continue to run in a similar pattern through 2020.

Register

More information

Commonwealth100 runs in seven week cohorts. After filling in a short registration form, you will receive an email with more information about your cohort.

Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary General of the Commonwealth

“Commonwealth100 is a brilliant initiative, offering new ways for young citizens from our 53 member states to inspire and work alongside one another online towards a common future. Building on the shared values of our Commonwealth Charter, Common Purpose is bringing together the talents of our young people from every continent and ocean to cooperate and co-create for a future that is fairer, more prosperous, more secure and more sustainable. Most importantly, through the Open Source Leadership concept Commonwealth100 offers young people in all our member countries inclusive and participatory opportunities to take positive action and make lasting impact for the common good.”

The Open Source Leadership Guiding Model was launched in Dhaka in October, by the Honourable Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament. The subsequent Open Source Leaders online programme was introduced during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet in London in April, with a workshop at the Commonwealth Youth Forum and a launch event at the High Commission of the Republic of Zambia.